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December 17, 2008

The 100 Best Things in Park Slope

Only the Blog Known Brooklyn has compiled the annual Park Slope 100: "100 stories, 100 ways of looking at the world, 100 inspiring people, places and things." The list includes A Year in the Park's Brenda Becker, "because in 2008 you decided to visit Prospect Park every day as an urban adventure (and, not least, as a drug-free antidepressant!), and to chronicle your discoveries"; WNYC's Andrea Bernstein, because "your reporting of Hillary Clinton’s primary campaign was always top notch, as were your stories from battleground states"; and "Jake the panhandler who stands in front of ACE Supermarket on Seventh Avenue and Berkeley Place because you've had a tough life, you always ask so nicely and you have such a big, warm smile." Other mentions: Bill de Blasio, John Hodgman, D'Vine Taste and Medusa Salon. Read the full list, and if you have more, add 'em here.

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so in other words... 100 things white people like.

(sorry i couldn't resist)

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at December 17, 2008 10:18 AM

God, this is nauseating. Makes me want to move out of Park Slope.

Shouldn't this be called: "100 like-minded people I want to complement"?

I'd like to run another feature: most self-absorbed, NIMBY blogs. Top two contenders: OTBKB and (my personal favorite) Pardon Me for Asking.

Posted by: benson at December 17, 2008 10:27 AM

not to split hairs but Hooti Couture is in prospect heights

Posted by: Santa at December 17, 2008 10:29 AM

http://thingswhitepeoplelike.com/

OTBKB is not on the official list of things white people like.

Benson, as usual, I don't get your vitriol. I've noticed lots of informative posts from PMFA make it to Brownstoner, chronicling neighborhood development issues. Be nice.

Posted by: longtimelistener at December 17, 2008 10:31 AM

The most extraordinary person on this list is Ann Prescott. She has changed the lives of children and parents for three decades.

There aren't words to describe her. I love this woman.

Posted by: superstooper at December 17, 2008 10:32 AM

I'm on benson's side on this one.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 17, 2008 10:35 AM

Rob, that's the funniest thing you've said yet, and you've had a few.

Reading it, I can see why some people make fun of the liberal, left-leaning, organic, stroller pushing, family oriented, literate, well-off, we are the world white folks who live there. Some of the entries were insightful, some a bit too much. I have problems with people who have their favorite homeless guy, but that's another story. Still, it is nice to be in a community that takes pride in literacy, social justice, and the arts. I'm glad I can always go there to partake of the goodies, but glad also I live where I live, and we are creating our own legacy. Happy holidays!

Posted by: Montrose Morris at December 17, 2008 10:36 AM

pretentious bullsh*t

Posted by: blackstoner at December 17, 2008 10:37 AM

oh god i didnt even get to the favorite homeless guy on the list. is that for real? :-/

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at December 17, 2008 10:39 AM

Listing people is cheap. A list of best places and things would actually serve a function.

Posted by: shillstoner at December 17, 2008 10:46 AM

In the spirit of this list, I'd like to add another:

"Juanita Valasquez - She is the ultimate Park Slope cleaning lady. It is so instructive for my Josh and Kaitlin to me speaking a few words of Spanish to her, demonstrating my sensitivity to diversity issues. I can still see her look of surprise when I first tried some Spanish on her - she stopped cleaning the farts off the bar stool, looked up and a precious little smirk came to her face.

I also thought it was important that my whole family be there when I handed her the $20 bonus for Festivus. The lessons in generosity to my little ones was priceless.

Of course, we did have that little unpleasant moment when she asked about providing some type of insurance coverage. I think she understood my perspective, however, when I lectured her on the need to vote for Obama, to take care of such matters.

Posted by: benson at December 17, 2008 10:52 AM

Sorry - resend. I sent out the previous version before the final editing.

______

In the spirit of this list, I'd like to add another:

"Juanita Valasquez - She is the ultimate Park Slope cleaning lady. It is so instructive for my Josh and Kaitlin to see me speaking a few words of Spanish to her, demonstrating my sensitivity to diversity issues. I can still remember her look of surprise when I first tried some Spanish on her - she stopped cleaning the farts off the bar stool, looked up and a precious little smirk came to her face.

I also thought it was important that my whole family be there when I handed her the $20 bonus for Festivus. The lessons in generosity to my little ones was priceless.

Posted by: benson at December 17, 2008 10:55 AM

lol benson.. call me dense, but until i got to like the last paragraph and saw your screenname i thought you were serious.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at December 17, 2008 10:55 AM

Actually it seems like 'best places and things lists' are extremely common. More rare to see people who are appreciated.

And why shouldn't mention be made of a homeless person (oh the horrors) who is well liked? They're here, they're interacting with us on a sometimes daily basis. The reaction to this reminds me of the common feeling of not being able to look at or smile at or make eye contact with someone with cerebral palsy in a wheelchair (or something similar) because it is uncomfortable or thought to be somehow offensive, when in fact, it is painful NOT to be acknowledged.

And how did race enter into this? Why must it be sneeringly suggested or laughed at - that this is only about white people's likes?

Posted by: Nokilissa at December 17, 2008 10:58 AM

Best thing about Park Slope is clearly that it attracts all those pretentious people that might otherwise spread to uninfested neighborhoods.

Posted by: Sparafucile at December 17, 2008 11:00 AM

oh noklissa, i dont think everyone was being so serious.. i see your point too. honestly i have had my fav. homeless people. the woman in soho who i give a cigarette to everyday who bought (or found) me a mooncake a few weeks ago. etc. i just think putting a homeless person on a list of top 100 things to like in park slope reeks of something strangely funky, and it's not their feet.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at December 17, 2008 11:01 AM

Fair point.

Posted by: Nokilissa at December 17, 2008 11:03 AM

Excellent benson...you're on a roll today (and last night).

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 17, 2008 11:04 AM

sorry, this is the right web site:
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/

stuff, not things.

Posted by: longtimelistener at December 17, 2008 11:13 AM

Benson, What is this side of you? I'm digging it!
^^^^ Maybe, I'll regret saying this by Friday.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at December 17, 2008 11:17 AM

Oh, now I get it. The vitriol, the race baiting, the sneering references to self congratulatory, entitled, rich, white, Spanish-speaking-"maid" users of Park Slope.

I read the list, and even looked into some of the links. Libraries, teachers, conservatories, restaurants, artists, Obama supporters, bloggers (including a hilarious black guy, and a white guy who recently lost his wife suddenly and now writes about it in order to survive the grief), authors, photographers... I get it. How ridiculous and pretentious to chronicle and congratulate or thank such people.

Posted by: Nokilissa at December 17, 2008 11:23 AM

"Actually it seems like 'best places and things lists' are extremely common. More rare to see people who are appreciated."

Where can I find a good list of best Park slope places and things?

As for this list, it is not a list of "people who are appreciated." It is a list of "really cool people who live where we live which means that we are really cool too!" Big difference.

Posted by: shillstoner at December 17, 2008 11:23 AM

Benson, I agree with BRG. Have you been replaced by a pod?

Good stuff!

Noki, it's great that they interact with the guy, and remember him at Christmas, but somehow, it smacks of him being like a favorite mascot. If they had said they tried to get him in a program, or found housing for him, or tried to find his family, or something other than what they wrote, I wouldn't be on their case. Now he's like a pet. I'm probably making too much of this, and should be glad the man is getting some handouts and generosity. I'll let it go.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at December 17, 2008 11:26 AM

I wouldn't usually comment on something like this. But I have to completely disagree with the mention of Jake as one of the best things about Park Slope. Nothing against the homeless, but Jake has been doing this for a living for over 20 years. I grew up in the neighborhood and have worked in many establishments on 7th Avenue and know Jake from waaay back. I got tired of giving him handouts. I don't think a homeless (allegedly) man who has made a living off of handouts from Park Slopers for over 20 years because he is pleasant and articulate deserves a mention as one of the best 100 things about Park Slope. I think we can do better than that.

Posted by: broker at December 17, 2008 11:26 AM

Nokilissa;

Aw come on,lighten up. I live in Park Slope myself. A little self-parody is always good for the soul.

Posted by: benson at December 17, 2008 11:28 AM

"Aw come on,lighten up. I live in Park Slope myself. A little self-parody is always good for the soul."

OKAY...I'm so baffled at this point!!

Posted by: bayridgegirl at December 17, 2008 11:32 AM

BRG and Montrose;

I'm showing my warm and fuzzy side (which disappears during the Friday Fedder horror show).

Posted by: benson at December 17, 2008 11:36 AM

Okay Benson. Don't know why this is riling me up so much. It must be a bad morning. I ran out of my favorite cereal (Cinnamon Harvest).

But seriously, sometimes the white thing really gets to me. And I saw a preponderance of negativity and hatred for a list that took effort and thought and time and love to create. In good faith. Seeing it torn asunder with such glee was more than I could take without my breakfast.

Also, Montrose, I totally get your reaction. But sometimes, and I truly know this from experience, a panhandler or homeless person is not interested in the kind of help you were suggesting, and in fact recoils from it. They just want money or food to survive in their way, a kind word, perhaps a daily one, and acknowledgment that they are a human being.

I need breakfast.

Posted by: Nokilissa at December 17, 2008 11:42 AM

I'm pretty sure I could walk down 7th ave today and randomly pick people, and come up with 100 I appreciate more than Jake the panhandler. Pleasant or not, hard life or not, dude's spent the last twenty-plus years asking for other people's money and then blowing it (not to mention the six-figure settlement from the NYPD) on crap.

I live in and love Park Slope and don't want to move anywhere else, but I don't get the love some people have for the various panhandlers stretched along 7th between Flatbush and Union.

Posted by: cwbuecheler at December 17, 2008 11:48 AM

Benson, OMG, that was priceless!

Posted by: cobblehiller at December 17, 2008 11:57 AM

Mortgage rates are under 5% for non jumbos. Mid 5's for jumbos.

I couldn't help myself. Going to be a good Christmas.

Oh, i forgot... coupons, poop, nimbys, atlantic yards, park slope, clinton hill, the g trian, hipsters, yuppies, ikea, stroller nazis, and a partridge in a pear tree.

adahill@approvedfunding.com

Posted by: Adam Dahill at December 17, 2008 11:57 AM

Sorry, I thought this was the open thread. My bad!!!

Posted by: Adam Dahill at December 17, 2008 11:58 AM

"I'm showing my warm and fuzzy side (which disappears during the Friday Fedder horror show)."

I'm looking forward to Friday :)

Under 5% - for how long?
Should I start looking again?

Posted by: bayridgegirl at December 17, 2008 12:01 PM

Nokillisa, I'm not ragging on the good folk of Park Slope, or even the blog,OTBKB. I'm probably in political and do-gooder agreement with 90% of them, and have actually partaken of, or supported some of the people and causes espoused. And there were plenty of non-white people celebrated, and I'm sure, more than a few who contributed to the making of the list.

But ya gotta admit, some of it was asking for Benson's parody, or DIB's nausea. I think some healthy skepticism and snark is allowed. And some of it was like reading "What White People Like", and I understand the humor, and why Rob said that. Even do-gooders can get treakly and overly good, especially at Christmas. I'm sure Benson and I will be butting heads again really soon, perhaps after a good breakfast. We'll see what Fedders Friday brings us.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at December 17, 2008 12:04 PM

I hear you.

What is this Fedders Friday?

Posted by: Nokilissa at December 17, 2008 12:10 PM

"What is this Fedders Friday?"

OH, Noki...come here on Friday...it's quite entertaining. Where Benson and I call each other every vile name, lawsuits are waged, sex toys are introduced, all because of Thru the Wall Air Conditioners.

On the upside, Montrose is very civil in her posts with Benson. I admire her so.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at December 17, 2008 12:18 PM

I actually totally agree with Benson about PMFA. That one is way more self-centered and self-congratulatory than OTBKB. Brownstoner tends to only link to her less annoying posts, so you can't judge just by looking at the posts you've seen through the links from this blog. Spend some time reading her blog on a daily basis (like i did when I was trying to learn more about Carroll Gardens) and you'll see that her head is so far up her ass, it's amazing that it's not being digested by her stomach.

Posted by: Make My Heights the P Heights at December 17, 2008 12:19 PM

Benson, hysterical. I agree with you on this one.

Posted by: TownhouseLady at December 17, 2008 12:23 PM

SnarkSlope didn't make the list?

Posted by: Biff Champion at December 17, 2008 12:31 PM

Speaking of parody, I've always enjoyed this one:
http://www.brooklynian.com/files/dumbwhore.pdf

Posted by: 5w30 at December 17, 2008 12:35 PM

J-O-A-N-I

Posted by: superstooper at December 17, 2008 12:36 PM

This is the same list that thanked "all the nannies" of Park Slope last year. Truly insufferable. And an embarrassment to Park Slope, in my opinion.

Posted by: bk14 at December 17, 2008 12:38 PM

Okay bk14. That was all it took.

I get the parody completely now. That IS insufferable. (head in hands with good grief thought bubble overhead).

Posted by: Nokilissa at December 17, 2008 12:46 PM

Wow - this makes my head spin. Is this a joke?

The typos are a nice touch as well.

Posted by: A Guest at December 17, 2008 12:58 PM

Someone should create an award ceremony and give out little statues to the winners so everyone can pat themselves on the back a little more.

Posted by: ou812 at December 17, 2008 1:34 PM

"SnarkSlope didn't make the list?"

Maybe I did. Under my "real" name.

Posted by: SnarkSlope at December 17, 2008 1:45 PM

I could do with fewer "people" and more "things"

What about the parrots???????

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 17, 2008 1:46 PM

Y'know, I'm a paleoconservative who was priced out of Park Slope 22 years ago, and I sneer at the Food Co-op and guffaw at "Stuff White People Like." But snark is not the same as viciousness, and the piling-on here is a bit much. There are worse things than being earnest, a little naive, or even a bit entitled. What's worse than being an affluent guilty-white-liberal Park Slope do-gooder? Being a greedy no-goodnik, a racist, an apathetic slacker, a half-witted cyberbully, or any other member of the vast pantheon of Jerks of Our Time. Many of my friends are, basically, Slope yuppies, and when I can swallow hard and ignore their ditsy politics and my own envy of their vast good fortune, I have to admit that they are fundamentally decent folks--I call them the camels that actually will squeeze through the eye of the needle. (Gospel reference, darlings.) Louise is a caring parent and citizen journalist who has, not incidentally, expended a huge amount of energy and goodwill to cultivate the Brooklyn blogging community and, yes, increase its diversity beyond her own demographic. If she is a pushover for the local panhandler, I can think of worse sins. I was touched and surprised to see her include me on her little list, (not least because I am, well, B of *Flatbush*), and I consider it an honor from a kind and generous lady who has done nothing but good for her community. (What is the female of mensch--menschette? If so, she is one.) I hope, however, that I am further up the list than that shiftless Jake fellow.

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at December 17, 2008 1:48 PM

Not sure what you were trying to say Brenda. And then to call someone shiftless at the end and jockey for position!!!!

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 17, 2008 1:54 PM

It's just more PS PC navel-gazing. Bah!

Posted by: cobblehiller at December 17, 2008 2:04 PM

I have lived in PS for 15 years, I know only about 5% of what that list is about, This either means I am a total loser or the coolest cat in the slope, I guess I have something to think about for the weekend. Stupid list, by the way.

Posted by: billyboomer at December 17, 2008 2:05 PM

billy...I wouldn't think too hard about something in a Park Slope blog.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 17, 2008 2:09 PM

Dave: I was saying, Lay off Louise, punks, she's a nice lady. And at the end, (sigh, head in hands), I was...kidding.

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at December 17, 2008 2:09 PM

Brenda;

I take exception to your calling the author of this list a journalist, at least when it comes to this list. If she had been honest and simply called the list "100 people that I think are neat" it would have at least had some rationale to it. To make it into "The Park Slope 100" IS the ultimate in navel-gazing and self-importance. For Pete's sake, she lists her landlord as one of the Park Slope 100!!!

Moreover, I happen to know a couple of the people she mentions. She honors a business person in this list that I have dealt with, and his or her firm borders on the corrupt. I'll leave it at that -except to say that it makes me wonder how she selects people for this list.

Posted by: benson at December 17, 2008 2:21 PM

"If she had been honest and simply called the list "100 people that I think are neat" it would have at least had some rationale to it. To make it into "The Park Slope 100" IS the ultimate in navel-gazing and self-importance."

Absolutely benson.

Posted by: cobblehiller at December 17, 2008 2:29 PM

how can you guys not think stuffwhitepeoplelike.com is hilarious?

Posted by: longtimelistener at December 17, 2008 2:50 PM

cause I don't get it. It was just a list of related searches. Was I in the wrong place? There didn't appear to be anything funny.

Posted by: Nokilissa at December 17, 2008 3:06 PM

oh the site is hysterical. you looked for it wrong noklissa. the last entry about white people living to have ironic ugly christmas sweater parties made me lol. true i never heard of these until this year i feel like everyone (all white) are having them.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at December 17, 2008 3:11 PM

Nokilissa, what did you have for breakfast? You've been awful crabby and without a sense of humor today. How can you not laugh at stuffwhitepeoplelike?

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 17, 2008 3:12 PM

"She honors a business person in this list that I have dealt with, and his or her firm borders on the corrupt."

benson, that's as bad as saying someone committed fraud. You should be sued. (I'm joking, let's keep the holiday goodwill going)

Posted by: Biff Champion at December 17, 2008 3:12 PM

I was going to go there when he posted that, Biff, but thought I better not!!!

Smiles everyone. Happy faces.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 17, 2008 3:15 PM

Remember Dave? I didn't GET my breakfast.

Okay, so I found it! First I had just copied and pasted the link, which was wrong, it just went to a search list. Then I googled it and got into the site. I just finished the learning a different language piece and almost pee-ed (sp).

I JUST signed up for Bilingual America (Spanish) this morning! I couldn't make this stuff up.

Dyin' here.

Posted by: Nokilissa at December 17, 2008 3:16 PM

Hola Nokilissa.

Como esta usted, hoy?

Que usted tiene para el desayuno?

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 17, 2008 3:24 PM

I swear I'm not making this up...

The other day a colleague of mine in the next office was on a conference call and suddenly screamed, "CAN SOMEBODY TRANSLATE THIS FUCKING DOCUMENT? I DON'T SPEAK MEXICAN!"

Posted by: Biff Champion at December 17, 2008 3:25 PM

Biff and Dave;

I knew that was coming. NOTE, however, that I did not "out" the business person.

On track with the smiles!

Posted by: benson at December 17, 2008 3:26 PM

I can see someone in your line of work saying that, Biff. All those Asshats in finance are the same boorish, philistine types.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 17, 2008 3:28 PM

benson, yes, I did notice the distinction. Thanks for continuing to be a good sport.

Posted by: Biff Champion at December 17, 2008 3:28 PM

What did I have for breakfast? Is that what you asked?
Oh, I'm going to be so GOOD in about 3 months. Just you wait. I'll be bilingual once and for freakin' all. I'm going to be a Spanish speaking machine I tell you.

Posted by: Nokilissa at December 17, 2008 3:33 PM

Or was it lunch? Sh*t. I'm going to look up 'desayuno'

Posted by: Nokilissa at December 17, 2008 3:35 PM

We can go to latin bars together, Nokilissa.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 17, 2008 3:37 PM

If you like www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com

You might also enjoy:
www.blackpeopleloveus.com

Posted by: bayridgegirl at December 17, 2008 4:41 PM

. . . and her kid's band and the person who photographs them and his pre school teacher and some other pre school parent buddies/next door neighbors . . .

Maybe there is a companion "Louise Crawford Shit-list".

Posted by: superstooper at December 17, 2008 10:48 PM

I stopped reading OTBKB years ago. Louise fancies herself an arbiter of all things important. She also fancies herself a writer. Most of her blog consists of cut-and-paste features from other blogs or nytimes.com
And then there's the annoying stories about her lovely family, particularly her hubby and kids, with their cute nicknames. They're gonna need some heavy-duty therapy when they grow up.
And then there's her gawking and looking through closed shutters at PS "celebs" homes and new stores and restaurants.
Puullleeeeze! Spare us.

Posted by: anonymous552 at December 18, 2008 9:04 AM

« Fulton Street Goes Two-Way Again Open Thread Wednesday »

December 17, 2008

The 100 Best Things in Park Slope

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